PCB chief resigns after World Cup debacle

Accepting moral responsibility for the team's debacle in the World Cup, PCB Chairman Ashraf quits from his post.

Accepting moral responsibility for the team's debacle in the World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Dr Naseem Ashraf has quit from his post.

According to Board sources, Dr Ashraf has submitted his resignation on Monday to President General Pervez Musharraf, who is also the chief patron of the board.

"Whether the president accepts his resignation or not is known as yet," one source said.

"Ashraf spoke to an official of the Presidency and told him he wished to resign in the wake of the team's poor performance. He told it was entirely his decision what he wanted to do," the source added.

Ashraf had taken over as the PCB Chairman last October after the resignation of Shaharyar Khan and the local media on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on him, demanding his resignation for Pakistan's World Cup exit following their humiliating defeat to Ireland.

Initially, Dr Ashraf had said that he would not resign as he had been in the board only for six months and would announce a new action plan for the future.

But the PCB chief on Tuesday told reporters in Mirpurkhas that he was disturbed with the team's performance and wanted to apologise to the nation for letting them down.

General Musharraf, in a recent television interview, had made it clear that there would be a massive overhaul of the cricket administration following the World Cup debacle.